RLSP legislators rebel, say they are still with NDA

Patna, Dec 16:Five days after the RLSP quit the BJP-led NDA, all three of its legislators in Bihar Assembly on Saturday formally announced that they are still with the NDA and would continue with the alliance.

The development is a clear indication that RLSP is on the verge of a split, and all three party legislators hinted to join either the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon.

In a major embarrassment to RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, who resigned as Union Minister on December 10, the three party legislators accused him of pursuing personal interests in announcing the walkout from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Both Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs -- Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan -- and its lone member of Legislative Council Sanjiv Singh Shyam made this statement at a press conference here.

They also demanded a ministerial berth for Shekhar in the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar.

"We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party," Shyam said.

The RLSP, which contested the 2014 general election as well the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls as an NDA constituent, has altogether three MPs including Kushwaha, two MLAs and one MLC in Bihar.

While the three legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, of the two other Lok Sabha members -- Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi, the former has been charting an independent course for the last two years.

Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of the NDA and Nitish Kumar, later changed his stance, and was seen with Kushwaha when he announced his resignation from the Cabinet.